ABSTRACT
From the earliest times, medicine, magic, and religion were associated with each other and confused. The physician might with his magic exert a favorable influence over ghosts and devils; with his medical knowledge, he could give the patient his remedies; and with his correct ritual, he might placate the gods to free his patient from illness. The early medicine man was considered a superman whose function was to control the dark powers that threatened human life both seen and unseen. In connection with religion, the highly developed hygiene of the Egyptians even overshadowed their medical knowledge. Magic is generally regarded as the older of the two and never has lost hold on its offspring. Doing some benefit by mysterious or miraculous powers reflected the belief in the power of magicians. Practitioners of Magic had their instruments and objects ready to be used when called.
